Nick Cannon Shares Heartfelt Tribute to Dead Rapper Ryan Bowers

Nick Cannon from The Masked Singer shared a heartfelt tribute to rapper Ryan Bowers, who died this week at the age of 24. The up-and-coming San Diego-based rapper took his own life. His suicide has left his mentor (and the music world) reeling.

In 2019, Bowers was shot by San Diego police in a gruesome standoff, after he attempted to slash his own throat with a knife. He survived the incident but remained in a coma for months. After recovering, Bowers continued to make music and collaborate with Nick Cannon. Although he was suicidal, Cannon notes that his friend would often smile or carry on as if everything was OK. Bowers was even active on social media just days before his death. His final Instagram post was about a private album release party which was held on July 4, 2020. This week, Cannon was shaken to his core after learning of his friend’s death. He reportedly contemplated suicide due to his grief.

“Just when I thought it couldn’t get any worse… 2020 is definitely the most f**ked up year I’ve ever witnessed!” Cannon said in a post on Instagram, according to Heavy. The post has since been removed. “After waking up & barely rising from my own dark contemplation of continuing my physical existence on this planet, this powerful warrior actually had the b*lls to do it.”

News of Bowers’ death could not have come at a worse time for Cannon. The Masked Singer host was embroiled in a PR nightmare following several incendiary racist comments he made on his Cannon’s Corner podcast. Cannon ultimately was stripped of his relationship with Viacom as a result. The fate of his MTV2 franchise Wild ‘n Out still hangs in the balance. However, he will no longer serve as the chairman of Nick Teen, and most of his other privileges with the network have been terminated. Cannon has yet to be fired from his hosting gig at Fox, although the scandal is still fresh and could possibly lead to a separation down the line. Cannon, while remembering Bowers, posted that if he had not been involved in his own controversy, he might have been able to be there for him.

Many agree that Nick Cannon’s recent string of comments is indefensible, but no one should have to lose a friend in this manner. Bowers was beloved by so many, despite the fact that his career was just getting underway. To know that Cannon has internalized his friend’s death in such a way that he contemplated his own mortality is upsetting. If you or someone you know is going through a tough time, help is available. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, toll-free at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hopefully, Nick from The Masked Singer has people to talk to, in light of his recent comments.

Source: Heavy

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